Service stripe holder and clip



M. P. COHEN 2,730,824

SERVICE STRIPE HOLDER AND CLIP Jan. 17, 1956 Filed July 23, 1952 TTORll/EV United States Patent O 2,730,824 SERVICE STRIPE HOLDER AND CLIP i Meyer P. Cohen, Columbia, S. C. i Application Julyas, 1952, serial No. 300,434

s claims. (cttw- 1.5)

The present invention relates generally to military ribbon mountings and is more particularly concerned with an improved construction thereof including novel means for fastening the same to a garment. v p

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, rugged and unitary mounting which is adapted to receive and hold one or more military ribbons and which is adapted to be fastened `to a garment by novel means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a mounting which consists essentially of a single holder suitably shaped, molded, extruded or otherwise formed of transparent plastic material.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a mounting in which the transparent holder is simple and inexpensive and not only preserves the original conditionand appearance of the" service ribbons, but also enhances their appearance by affording a magnified view thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate the invention, it being understood `that variations thereof falling withinthe scope of the appended claims will be apparent to persons skilled the art.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the rear of `one form of the mounting as constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front of the mounting shown in Figure l, the parts being shown in disassembled condition and the fastening buttons shown `in Figure l being omitted; i

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the mountingA shown in Figures l and 2, parts being broken away or omitted for the sake of clarity and a locking plate `for the mounting being shown in broken lines;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; p

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5--5 of Figure 4 showing the mounting fastened to a garment; i 3

Figure 6 is a view of the blank from which a retaining element of the present invention is formed;

Figure 7 is a rear view of a retaining member formed from the blank shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is the same as Figure 7 but shows the retain- `ing member fitted with a pointed prong;

Figure 9 is a rear view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 10 is an end view of the modied form of the invention shown in Figure 9, being taken on line 10--10 of the latter view and showing the fastening button and a backing plate, the latter being shown in broken lines.

The ribbon carrier or mounting of the present invention consists essentially of a single structural unit which is adapted to receive several ribbons. Essentially, this structural unit comprises a rigid bar formed of a suitable transparent plastic material which may be manufactured in ICC any length desired and then cut to suitable unit length. While these bars may be shaped or formed by a variety of processes, 'the preferred manner is to extrude the material into the shape of an elongated bar having formed in the rear face thereof a single channel as shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, or a plurality of channels as, for example, shown in Figures 9 and 10. These channels extend the full length of the extruded bar and are openended, as shown, so that one or more ribbons may be slidably inserted into or removed from each channel. On its frontal face the transparent bar of plastic is externally shaped by the same extrusion operation to provide a transversely convex surface coextensive with the plane base surface of the ribbon receiving channel whereby to form an elongated magnifying lens immediately overlying the frontal surfaces of the service ribbons mountedin the holder.

'ln the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the rear surface of the bar 10 is undercut to provide a single channel 11 having inwardly extending coplanar flanges 12-12, the channel 11 being adapted to slidably receive one or more service ribbons 13 when the latter are inserted endwise into the channel. The frontal surface of the channeled portion of the bar 10 is transversely curved, as at 14, to provide the channel with an effective plano-convex lens which serves to magnify the ribbons mounted in the channel and sol enhances their appearance and display.

For retaining the service ribbons 13 in the channel 11 each end 0f the bar 10 is tted with an element 15 which is formed from a sheet metal blank 16. Referring to Figure 6, it will be observed that the blank 16 is provided with rectangular cuts 1'7-17 respectively opening on opposed edges thereof and forming therebetween a constricted portion 18 which is flanked by wing portions 19 and 20, the former having a terminal edge 21 which is rounded and the latter having a terminal edge 22 which is straight. Now referring to Figure 7, it will be ob served that in forming the element 15 from the blank 16, the wing portion 19 of the latter is turned so that it is disposed normal to the constricted portion 18 and the wing portion 20 and that the opposed marginal portions of the latter on opposite sides of the constricted portion 18 are oiset in the same direction and are disposed in coplanar relation, forming therebetween a channel which narrows in width from the constricted portion 18 toward the terminal edge 22. Now referring particularly to Figures 2, 5 and 8, it will be observed that the retaining element 15 is provided with a pointed prong 23 which projects through an opening in the base wall of the channel formed as hereinabove described, the prong 23 being disposed proximate the terminal edge 21 and the head thereof being suitably anchored to the aforementioned base wall.

The opposed offset marginal portions of the wing 20 slidably, snugly fit between the proximate portion of the service ribbon 13 and the coplanar flanges 12-12 of the holder 10, and the prong 23 projects rearwardly from the holder 10. When the retaining element 15 is fully engaged with the holder 10, the wing portion 19 thereof` abuts the end of the holder 10 and closes the end of the channel 11, thus preventing the service ribbon 13 from being dislodged from the holder. When the bar 10 is to be fastened to a garment, it is pressed against the fabric of the garment so that the prongs 23-23 of the retain# ing elements 15-15 at opposite ends thereof pierce the fabric as shown in Figure 5, the fabric of the garment being designated by the numeral 24. Quick-releasable safety buttons 25--25 of any conventional form are then engaged with the prongs 23--23 to secure the bar 10 to the garment 24. If desired, the display may be further enhanced by interposing between the bar 1l) and the fabric of the plate 26 are exposed Eto view and serve as a frame for setting'ot the holder 10 andthe contentslthereof. It willbe understood 'that 'the plate 26 i'sp'lvidedwith openitg's 27-27 through which the 'prongs 23-2'3 Aproject freely, yand it will be Afurther Understod' that both ythe bar The fribbengs 13 may be ef any 'suitable material, bm are preferably -la'de of 'semi-rid material So thatthey in'ay be slidably inserted into or 'removed froth the chan- Y nel. Thueribe iibbbneimaybe ef ea'rabeaiajwiih printed VThe prxnna'te Ranges' er the central 'eltamiel and respecenl pbriieiis of ilieeiii'ei @babbels Z9-29 are each pib- Vyideil iviili a retaining, element 33, which is identical ie v retaining 'ele eht 1'5 eXcpt-that'itdoes not have a prong closely 'adjoining parallel clal'nels. Also, it 'may be desirable in certain instarlees to initially etfrude the bar inV 'the "feria effauliiple-jehenhel 'member' and then vcui it l'engthwis'et provide either a's'ngle "channelv or a dual eba'birel iin-it' er any desired prj'aeiie'al length. Further, a lr'lultiple vchaiil'i'e'l iiit may be longitudinal-ly and Ytransversa-:ly cui', as desiree iii 'e given nait, 'as' whereit is desire'dto l''oll'n't thieesvice ribbhs Vin one channel and v *j 14, same broadly, as well as specifically, as' indicated in the What is claimed as new lud useful is:

l. A military ribbon mounting comprising an elongated A render -said `ribbon visible through-the frontal-face thereof,V the side wallsl of 'said' channel being respectively prov vided with opposed inwardly Aturned co-planar anges we service' ribbbiis in an adjoining channel'er the helder.

ln such ease, the unit 'weine be soeur "as to center 'the shorter channel above fihe longer 'channel te` present a balanced appearance fr the 'eliifei- 6r ribbons inserted iii fille iniiltiple-elianel helder.

Yn will beiiiitler's'tem fof 'eeurse, 'that the present inventien 'is s'iiseepfible bf vei'rieus'1 'ehn'ges "and modie'ations which may be made from vtilneto'tiirie 'withoiit -invlvirlg any departure from 'thegeneral 'principles orreal spiritth'ereof, and 'it i's aceordingly'intended Vto claim the which form withthe base wall ofthe channel opposed grooves 'forreivig the opposite side edges of 'said ribbon insert, and I'rhans caried `said bar for detachably securing the same to a garment, said securing means including a pair of plate members respectively at opposite ends of said bar each having a pair of opposite end wing -portions joined by an intermediate constricted portion,

one ofsaidwilgs being" adapted 'to vbe positioned' behind saidriiibon insert 4with `'oppositeside coplan'ai marginal portions"thereof'rhovably 'seated respectively within the grooves formed on opos'ivte. des ofthe channel, said const'rite'd portion eit'endiilg. f'rdri said one wing outwardly intliepla of'rsid flanges, and the Vother of said wings eiteildhg y'fowardl'y 'from said constricted portion across the e'd' of said bar in abutting relation thereto, and a pronged element yforeach plate member projecting rearwa'dly -of said bar for engagement with a eoacting removable fastener, v

2. yI a r'no'ti'gfas defined in claim l Vwherein the groove-seated opposite Vside marginal portions of each plate nieifriber channel-engaging wing are joined by a rearwardlyuff'se't vwing .portion disposed in lthe plane of the channel 'side ywall."1lar'1ges',ar1dthe *prong element for the plate neber terminally secured to said offset wing portion. A'

3. In a mountingas defined in claim l wherein the groove-seated opposite side marginal portions of each plate rnerber -channel-engagingrwing are joined by a rearwardly offset wing portion disposed in the plane of the cihannelmside wall Vflanges, said offset wing portion being tapered so as vto adapt theinner end portion thereof for use as apilot to facilitate insertion of the 'wing into the channel. l l 

